120 



LOUISBURG: CAPE BRETON. 



[1853. 



miles broad ; and the lowest rock common to both, connecting the 

 troughs on the antiohual, in the valley of Lake Charaplain, is the 

 Trenton limestone. 



On the noi-th-western side of the western area the formations 

 are in a general Hat and quiescent condition from Lake Sii[ierior 

 to Penni^ylvania, and they succeed one another without any 

 observed want of conformity from the base of the Lower Silurian 

 to the summit of the carboniferous. But it has been shown by 

 Professor Rogers, that proceeding from north-west to south-east 

 there occius in this state a set of successive parallel undulations 

 •which increase in intensity in the direction mentioned, and on the 

 south-east side of the Apalachian coal-tield are sufficiently ■. iolent 

 to produce overturn dips in all the formations together, the coal 

 inclusive. These plications with their overturn dips thus form the 

 south e;isleni rim of the western area, and are distinctly traceable 

 by the Alpalachian chain through Vermont into Canada, and 

 through Canada to the Gulf of St. Lawrence; in this part con- 

 stituting the north-western lim of the eastern area. But while in 

 the western division there is no want of conformity from the 

 Lower bilunan rocks to the carboniferous, and the plications there 

 appear to be of a date subsequent to the carboniferous deposit, in 

 the eastern there are evidences of a want of conformity between 

 the Upper and Lower Sdurian formations; and chough the folds 

 in the former do not seem quite so violent, they are in parallel 

 directions with those in the latter. There is another and a 

 greater want of conformity between the Devonian rocks and the 

 carboniferous. A large portion of the carboniferous deposit of 

 New Brunswick shows but very moderate dips, and on the shores 

 of Bay Chaleur it lies in a quiescent condition on the tilted edges 

 of the lower formations, sometimes resting on one and sometimes 

 on another. Its north-western outcrop, however, or rather, I 

 should say, the longitudinal axis of the whole coal-field from New 

 Bmnswick to Newfoundland, has a parallelism with the folds of 

 the inferior rocks, and there are several parallel undulations in 

 nearly the same direction on the south side of the carboniferous 

 deposit. 



The conclusion to be drawn from these facts appeara to be, that 

 some cause, producing folds in the stratification in one general 

 direction, has been in operation from at least the cessation of the 

 Lower Silurian epoch to the termination of the carboniferous ; and 

 it only requii'es the inspection of ajiia]) of Atlantic America to 

 observe how the features of its physical geography, displayed in 

 the configuration of its coast, in its valleys of undulations and those 

 of transverse fracture, are almost entirely dependent on the results 

 of this cause. 



The fossiliferons rocks of both these divisions, with the exception 

 of that part supported by the Cambrian formations of Lakes 

 Superior and Huron, i-est, along the valleys of the St. Lawrence 

 and the Ottawa, upon a series consisting of micaceous and horn- 

 blendic gneiss, interstratified towards the south with great bands 

 of crystalline limestone, sometimes highly charged with magnesia 

 and associated with vast masses of magnetic iron ore, but without 

 calcareous beds on t' e north. These rocks constitute a part of the 

 low granitic ridge, which to the westward has been traced by Sir 

 J. Richardson as extending with a north-westerly curve to the 

 Arctic Ocean. 



The Canadian rocks on the north side of this granitic ridge, as 

 displayed toward the head of Lake Temiscamang, consist, in 

 ascending order, of chloritic slates and conglomerates, with a slaty 

 matri.K; the volume of these is probably not less and may be 

 much mori than 1000 feet. On them rests a set of massive pale 

 greenish-white or sea-gieen sandstones, the total amount of which, 

 as determined by the height of hills which they compose in nearly 

 horizimlal l.nyers, is between 400 and .500 feet. These are .suc- 

 ceeded by about 300 feet of buff and whitish fossiliferons lime- 

 stone';, the lowest br-d of wliii-h is rompnand of a collection of 



great boulders and blocks of sandstone, some of them nine feet in 

 diameter, that were lying immediately on the sti-ata fiom which 

 they were derived when they became covered up, and in wdiich 

 great cracks and worn fissures are filled with the calcareous deposit 

 that envelopes the whole. The sandston&s being without dis- 

 covered fossils, it is not easy to determine their age ; but the lime- 

 stones by their organic contents are distinctly shown to belong to 

 the Upper Silurian epoch. The Lower Silurian deposits, unless 

 the unfossiliferous sandstones be a member of the group, appeiir 

 to be wholly wanting in the localit}', and as all the forms brought 

 from other localities on the north side of the granitic ridge by 

 Bigsb}', Richardson, and othei-s, are, I believe, referable to Upper 

 Silui'ian types, it appears not improbable that the absence of the 

 Lower Silurian rocks may spread over an extensive area, and the 

 south side of the ridge indicate an ancient limit to a Lower 

 Silurian sea. 



The nearest locality of the «ell-defined forms which inhabited 

 this sea is at the island of Allumette, about 200 miles .southward 

 from the Upper Silurian rocks of Lake Temiscamang ; there is, 

 however, a jiatcli of the same lower formation which is only 

 about 100 miles southward from them, but in it the fossils are 

 obscure. Instead of giving any remarks of my own on the fossils 

 of the two sides of the granitic ridge, I shall append to my paper 

 a note which my friend Mr. Salter, of the Geological Surve}' of 

 the United Kingdom, has been so kind as to make on them after 

 a careful inspection, only stating that the specimens which have 

 been examined are but a small part of an important collection, 

 chiefly from the eastern of the two divisions that have been alluded 

 to, brought from Canada for comparison, and that twice as many 

 specimens as have been brought remain in the Pro\ince from 

 other parts, while great additions it is hoped will annually be 

 made to them. 



Louisburg, Cape Breton. 



By S. J. STRATFORD, M. R. C S^ ENG., TORONTO. 



During the last summer, in a tour to our noble Eastern 

 Provinces, fortune led my steps to explore the remains of the 

 ancient city of Louisburg ; and I was forcibly struck with the 

 spectacle of lonel}' desolation which it now presents. The 

 remains however, of the extensive fortifications which are pre- 

 sented in every direction, plainly bespeak the former strength 

 and importance of this maritime capital of La Nouvelle France. 

 As the sudden destruction of a place so celebrated was a most 

 unusual occurrence in the New World, I was naturally led to 

 enquire into its history, and to collect material on the spot that 

 should explain it; but as thi.s, though replete with thrilling inci- 

 dents, would be too extensive for the Canadian Journal, 1 must 

 be content at present to ofter but a few observations on the cele- 

 brated city, which appears to have been almost totally forgotten 

 in Canada. 



The town of Louisburg was situated upon tlie neck of land 

 which jets out into the sea, westward of the islands which form 

 the mouth of the harbour; was of an oblong figure and nearly 

 two miles in circumference. It was fortififd in a most scientific 

 manner; while powerful batteries were built at all the most 

 ccmmanding points that could defend the entrance of the 

 harbour. 



The streets of the city were wide, and ran at right angles ; the 

 houses were principally constructed of wood, built upon stono 

 foundations; but the public buildings were of more dui'able 

 materials, stone or brick. The ])ublic buildings situated in the 

 town were of an extensive character, and ]irincipall_v for religious 

 purposes. There was the fine hospital of St. Jean ile Dieu, to 

 which was connected a church, dignified by the title of a Cathe- 

 dral, — a reallv elegant and sp.-jcious structure; besides tlie.se 



